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Gallade used Teleport to reach an uninhabited mountain range.
Once there, he released Gardevoir and the other Pokémon.
"Pi-ka-chu!"
As soon as Pikachu emerged, he gave Pidgeot a thumbs-up. The team could sense the recent battle while inside their Poké Balls. Pikachu's expression conveyed approval—Pidgeot had performed well, bringing no embarrassment to their Trainer.
Hearing Pikachu's words, Pidgeot puffed out its chest proudly. It stole a nervous glance at Gardevoir, but when it realized she wasn't angry, it sighed in relief.
To be fair, Gallade was stronger than Gardevoir in battle. However, all the Pokémon respected and feared Gardevoir more. Despite her gentle and understanding demeanor in front of Evan, privately, she could be terrifying. Even Gallade, the strongest in their group, would never risk making her angry.
Among the team, Gardevoir was undoubtedly the "eldest sister." Her decision not to challenge Pidgeot stemmed from its recent stellar performance. If Pidgeot had lost against Aerodactyl, the outcome might have been different. It wasn't hard to imagine Gardevoir knocking Pidgeot flat for underperforming.
"Garde~!"
Gardevoir ignored Pidgeot and instead praised Lurantis. For its first battle, Lurantis had done exceptionally well. Though it hadn't yet reached the Elite level, Gardevoir seemed satisfied with its progress.
Lurantis blushed at the compliment, feeling it had only done its duty.
After offering her praise, Gardevoir turned to her brother, Gallade.
"Let's head to the Dark Forest," she suggested. "We need to bring that Pokémon over."
Gallade blinked in shock. "What are you planning?"
The Pokémon she referred to wasn't easy to deal with. While it seemed deceptively simple to persuade, it was still a Legendary Pokémon—a formidable foe.
Gardevoir gave a sly smile. "I think Evan should participate in this year's National Competition. Since Pikachu isn't strong enough, we'll recruit others to fill the gap."
Gallade sighed, knowing there was no dissuading her once she had made up her mind. "Let's focus on getting all the Badges first," he replied. "If we can't even do that, there's no point in entering."
Gardevoir nodded in agreement. They would secure all the remaining Badges within three months—more than enough time before the competition. Should things prove difficult, they could always count on Evan to help.
The Pokémon team, overhearing the conversation, couldn't help feeling disappointed. It seemed unlikely they would get to participate in the National Competition.
Sensing their emotions, Gardevoir addressed them calmly.
"You must work hard, too."
"Otherwise, when the National Competition comes, you'll have to fight on the frontlines," Gardevoir continued, her voice calm but firm. "The ones in reserve can't afford to fail."
She added with a sly grin, "And don't tell the master about this just yet. When the time comes, we'll bring those Pokémon back as a surprise for him."
A mischievous glint flickered in her eyes as she spoke. Hearing her words, the other Pokémon's eyes lit up with excitement, their spirits lifted by the idea of pulling off such a grand gesture.
After finalizing their plans, the Pokémon began to wrap up their discussions. Gallade gathered the group and, riding on Pidgeot, returned to the breeding house.
Back at the breeding house, Evan had spent the entire afternoon teaching some uncles how to make basic Energy Cubes. After a few demonstrations, they quickly picked up the process and were now producing a steady supply of the cubes.
Evan had tasked Machamp with delivering large quantities of materials, ensuring the uncles had everything they needed to continue production. While a portion of the cubes went to the wild Pokémon Evan cared for, the majority were sold through the breeding house.
Evan decided to price the low-level Energy Cubes slightly below market rates, focusing on volume rather than profit. With no rent or overhead costs, aside from electricity, the operation was sustainable. He planned to monitor sales performance closely over the next few days.
Just as Evan wrapped up his tasks, the three girls who were interning with him returned from their day off.
"We're back!" Isla called out cheerfully, her face beaming with happiness. She had clearly enjoyed her day.
Upon spotting Evan, she practically ran to him, her excitement bubbling over. "Brother Evan! Guess what? Daniel and Michael got their Intermediate Breeder Certificates today! And I've already seen the questions for the Advanced Certificate exam. I think I understand most of them!"
She added confidently, "If I study the parts I don't fully grasp, I'm sure I can pass the Advanced Certificate exam before the end of the year."
Evan nodded approvingly. "That's great, Isla. Once you earn your Advanced Certificate, you can apply for graduation early. That would be a huge step forward."
The three , who were currently interning at the breeding house, were thrilled by the prospect of early graduation. They chatted animatedly about how they could showcase their success to their classmates. Just imagining their classmates' reactions made them even more excited.
After greeting Evan, they headed home to study, determined to achieve their goals.
Seeing them leave, Evan decided to check on the breeding house himself. Business had been slow today, so he had a rare moment of leisure. With Gardevoir on watch, Evan could rest assured that any visitors would be promptly noticed.
He wandered through the back hills and orchards, accompanied by a group of young Growlithes. These Growlithes were still in their infancy, having recently been sent to the market as they didn't make the cut as police dogs. Despite being deemed less promising than their siblings, their lineage was excellent.
As they patrolled, Evan patiently taught the Growlithes, instilling knowledge bit by bit. Their sharp intelligence, inherited from their parents, meant they absorbed the information well.
Evan smiled as he pointed to the surroundings. "This is your territory now. Remember it well."